Through concise text and richly detailed black and white illustrations we come to know the philosophy of life and death in ancient Egypt.
Pyramid
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
When children catch their first glimpse of a pyramid, a sea of questions inevitably tumbles forth. "Why are they shaped like that?" "How were they made?" "Who made them?" "What were they used for?" Perplexed adults can sigh with relief now that David Macaulay has found a way to thoroughly answer all those deserving questions. His exquisitely crosshatched pen-and-ink illustrations frame the engaging fictional story of an ancient pharaoh who commissions a pyramid to be built for him. With great patience and respect for minute detail (not unlike the creators of the early pyramids), Macaulay explains the sometimes backbreaking tasks of planning, hauling, chiseling, digging, and hoisting that went into the construction of this awe-inspiring monument. Just when the narrative teeters on the edge of textbook doldrums, Macaulay brings us back to the engaging human drama of death and superstition. This respectful blending of architecture, history, and mysticism will certainly satiate pyramid-passionate children as well as their obliging parents. ALA Notable Book. (Ages 9 and older) --Gail Hudson
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"David Macaulay's brilliant Pyramid shows, detail by detail, how the great pharaohs' burial places were conceived and constructed . . . His draftsmanship is unexcelled, and his book is pharaonic in opulence and design." Time Magazine
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More About the Author
David Macaulay is an award-winning author and illustrator whose books have sold millions of copies in the United States alone, and his work has been translated into a dozen languages. Macaulay has garnered numerous awards including the Caldecott Medal and Honor Awards, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, the Christopher Award, an American Institute of Architects Medal, and the Washington Post-Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award. In 2006, he was the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, given "to encourage people of outstanding talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations." Superb design, magnificent illustrations, and clearly presented information distinguish all of his books. David Macaulay lives with his family in Vermont.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Who hasn't wondered how the Great Pyramids came to be? In this stunningly illustrated, richly detailed book, David Macaulay skillfully shows one way they could have been built. I had ordered the book for our family's study of ancient Egypt, based on a recommendation in The Greenleaf Guide to Ancient Egypt, which raved about it. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was stunned at the detail and care of the drawings and fascinated by the accounts. Although the long descriptions were daunting for my then-first grader, the illustrations caught her eye, and her older siblings dug into it with enthusiasm.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By J. Moore
Format:Paperback
This is a fabulous book for anyone looking to learn more about the pyramids of Ancient Egypt without the burden of scholar-like vocabulary and disturbing depth. But at the same time the book conveys the mysteries of the pyramids with a keen intellect of the topic. The author knows his topic but writes his book so anyone can enjoy the knowledge and enlightenment a deeper understanding of the past can provide.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
David MacAulty's book discusses and illustrates "one method" by which the pyramids of Egypt may have been built, and follows the construction step by step. His pen and ink drawings are excellent. The book may have been written for children (ages 9 and older) but, I enjoyed the book. I highly recommend it for adults and children with an interest in the pyramids. My eight year old son was fascinated by the book. Hopefully, his interest in Egyptology has been sparked by this fine book. I tend to disagree with the author when he refers to the pyramids as tombs. No bodies have been found within the pyramids. Its more likely the pyramids were used as structures for initiation ceremonies. Although, not specifically stated the entire book, except for a brief discussion of the Queen's pyramid and the mummification process, is devoted to the Great Pyramid of Khufu. The brief discussion of the mummification process is just the right amount of information for a child's book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Horrible on Kindle
I've always loved this book, even as a child, and was excited to see it on Kindle. Unfortunately, the publishers just scanned in pages, making the illustrations hard to see and... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Sophie
5.0 out of 5 stars
David Macaulay is a plain genius
Show and tell, this book has it all. My kids are visual learners, and this book SHOWS them how the work got done. It will knock your socks off.
Published 23 months ago by M. Heiss
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy this book for your child (and you, too)
I bought this and the other David Macaulay books because I loved them as a child. I used this one for a research paper in 7th or 8th grade and fell in love with the author's visual... Read more
Published on May 15, 2011 by Michael Haley
3.0 out of 5 stars
Slightly Disappointing
I hate to say anything negative about a book and author who are so well esteemed. Indeed, Macaulay is an amazing artist and engineer, and the quality of the book is very high. Read more
Published on March 7, 2011 by Will Riddle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Intro to Pyramid Construction
As with most Macaulay books, the strength is in his detailed designs. Excellent for gaining and keeping the attention of young readers as well as older folks. Read more
Published on July 6, 2010 by Peter A. Dotto
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pyramid = mystery
`Pyramid` (1975) is Macaulay's third book. It shows the building of a hypothetical pyramid similar in size to Giza. Unfortunately Macaulay took on a difficult subject. Read more
Published on October 25, 2008 by Stephen Balbach
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stories for Children Magazine 5 Star Review
Most everyone is fascinated with the Pyramids of ancient Egypt. The third in David Macaulay's series of books of how things in history were built uses both interesting text and... Read more
Published on July 7, 2008 by Virginia S. Grenier
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting, but not Macaulay's best
Visual explanation of how Egyptians living nearly 4500 years ago were able to construct such large and magnificent structures. Read more
Published on September 30, 2007 by Jill Mayfield
5.0 out of 5 stars
David Macaulay has done it again
Following in the tradition of other terrific books about complex construction projects using simple technology - such as Castle and Cathedral - Macaulay introduces children to the... Read more
Published on June 4, 2007 by AcornMan
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pyramids for Dummies
What a consummate waste of money this book is! It reads like it was written by a 14 year old to be read by 8 year olds. Read more
Published on April 28, 2007 by Paul B. Lynch
